Cookie Swap: Chocolate Caramelitas

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When it comes to holiday cookies, it’s easy to fall into a rut and make the same ones over and over again every year. I’ve been trying to challenge myself over the past couple of years to try some new recipes and I’ve been doing a pretty good job. This year, The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap seemed like a really fun way to continue challenging myself, while also getting to try some new cookies! Plus, getting 3 packages in the mail is right up my alley since i LOVE getting mail.

I spent a lot of time looking at Christmas cookie websites trying to find a fun new recipe to try and when I came across these, I immediately fell in love.

I’m a sucker for pretty much any baked good with oats in it, and I kept finding myself being drawn to recipes with pecans…which is weird, because I never buy them. I also never buy caramels. I didn’t even know they had vanilla flavored caramels. But indeed they do.

A few notes:
-The original recipe says this makes 48 bars…but unless you’re cutting them into like microscopic 1 inch squares, it does not make that many. Mine made just over 2 dozen and then I made another 1/2 batch so that I would have enough.
-I added Christmas m&ms just because they’re super festive and I love them.
-I used skim milk. I think any kind would do.
-I ran a little low on caramels on the last batch so I melted some butterscotch chips in with the caramel and it worked really well.
-LET THESE COOL COMPLETELY before trying to remove them from the pan or they will be a hot, gooey mess.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, soda, and salt. Add melted butter and oil and mix until crumbly. Set aside half of the mixture for the topping. Press the other half into the bottom of prepared baking pan.

3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine caramels and milk. Microwave on 50 percent power (medium) for 4 minutes or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring twice.

4. Sprinkle chocolate chips, m&ms and pecans over crust in pan. Drizzle evenly with melted caramel mixture and top with reserved crumb mixture.

5. Bake for 25-30minutes or until the top is light golden brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Use the foil to lift uncut bars out of pan. Cut into bars.

*Optional: these can also be made with 1 cup butter instead of 1/2 c butter, 1/2 c oil.

I found this workout thanks to Lindsay who tweeted about how awesome it was. Without an interval timer, I decided it would be too much of a hassle to switch between my timer and the list of things I was supposed to be doing so I did reps instead of time, and knocked off the last set to make it still take 25 minutes.

This took me exactly 25 minutes. I didn’t rest between any of the moves within each set and rested no more than 30 seconds between sets. It definitely worked up a sweat and it was just bodyweight so there were no weights to worry about. I’ll be doing this one again. I want to do it the original way with timed intervals and see which way I like better.

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About Lindsay

Lindsay Livingston is a Registered Dietitian and new mom from Columbus, Ohio. On her blog, she shares simple, healthy recipes, nutrition tips, workouts and snapshots of her life. Follow her on Twitter @LeanGrnBeanBlog and Instagram @TheLeanGreenBean and be sure to subscribe via RSS or email so you never miss a post!

Your cookies (or bars?)look great and so festive. I feel terribly that someone sent you cookies and you can’t thank them, hopefully they’ll read your blog.Lauren Slayton recently posted..A Diet Soda a Day if the ADA has Their Way

Oh my gosh those sound amazing! And I love the festive M&Ms :). I don’t usually buy caramel things, but I think I definitely would in order to make those babies.Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Stretching Series – Glutes

Lindsay, thanks so much for the cookies! My boys inhaled them! I guess that means they liked them :). And the Almond Joy cookies were from Jessie at http://www.bodyandsoulfood.blogspot.com. I got them too and tracked her down from her return address to thank her. I loved this cookie swap!Renee @ The Way to My Family’s Heart recently posted..Soft Pretzel Sticks

Oh man, these look AMAZING! I have been reading cookie posts like crazy today and I was just about to throw in the towel and then BAM! These beautiful little cookie bars waltz into my life. All of the cookies I received were AWESOME but I would loved to have received a dozen of these! Molly@hungryhungryrunner.com recently posted..The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap

[…] 5. Caramelitas- I made these for a cookie swap last year and they were great! This year I decided to make them just a little bit healthier. I think they turned out just as well as the original so I’ve updated the recipe in the original post. I used 1/2 butter, 1/2 oil instead of all butter, reduced the sugar by 1/2 a cup and used 1/2 the amount of caramel. I think using the oil made the coating on the xmas m&ms spread out which made them look even more festive Next time I might try with half applesauce/half butter instead of oil to see what happens. You can find the recipe by CLICKING HERE. […]

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